Randal O'Toole on Urban Planning (Cato University) (1 of 4)

[RomanV101]

Doesn't he know that U.S. cities and suburbs are tightly regulated by their local governments? Private property rights are an illusion- zoning codes, minimum lot size requirements, setbacks, all created by the local government to maintain an agreed upon form for whatever metro or neighborhood you live in. Something as simple as a supermarket next to homes, or homes above shops is not allowed in some places- in the end, Americans elect their city councils- the Federal Government has no place.

[nickitheninja5]

God for bid there's trees and fields don't get torn down

[Cyrus992]

I barely see the liberty that is received from auto-dominated sprawl

Dont listen and STOP Randal O Toole! He seems like a fraud. He and Wendell

Cox are part of the lobbyist groups that created this WWII type growth in the first place to CONTROL us.

They falsely act as libertarians to support the oil, cement, big box, asphalt, etc.. companies because walkable ideas destroy their revenues!

Notice how O Toole does not support a "free market" New Urbanism like I do

[Cyrus992]

In those cities, you’re forced to live in isolated subdivisions and drive in meaningless collector roads

You’re forced to deal with HOA, Mello Ross, and high property tax payments to maintain the masterplan

You’re forced to deal with land-use segregation and codes by public planners who DICTATE on where we should live.

You don’t have the option of living above the store if you work there

You’re limited in the street dimensions by the public planners

A lot of it’s subsidized.

[Cyrus992]

Exactly, what is about auto-dominated sprawl that benefits O'Toole?

His special interest group that benefits from auto-dominated sprawl. He poses himself as a libertarian to get some attention when he support a development that controlled by building codes and land use segregation.

His Houston example is a joke, but mixed-use and diverse planning is profitable and marketable to developers, and residents.

Same can be mentioned about Wendell Cox

[Cyrus992]

How in the world you are getting freedom in auto-dominated sprawl?

The house you choose is limited by codes and restrictions where is isolated from the daily needs of the household.

Business cannot choose to be in a marketable mixed of retail and office

People limited transportation choices and are forced to pay car payments, registration, DMV, maintenance, gas, insurance, land to store the cars, and traffic tickets.

There very little options for social needs.

[pawpawnorth]

This guy is stupid, heeats paint chips and look like Cololnel Sanders

[jmfan22692]

"The truth is that there is no evidence that people living at higher densities produce less greenhouse gases than people living at lower densities."

That's absolute crap.

A study in the Journal of Urban Planning and Development, quantified the emissions in both urban suburban neighborhoods in the Toronto metro area. And they found that downtown residents use radically less energy, and consequently emit about two-thirds less climate-warming CO2 than their suburban counterparts.

[KrunchyJD]

The problem with continuing suburbia as a concept, is peak oil. It makes no sense for everyone to drive 80 miles to go anywhere you just get gridlock.

[1redroom]

randall you are an idiot

[justinleemiller]

This man is a clown.

[TruthJunior]

his arguments are dishonest. Cato institute is the whore of big business, O'tool is their clown.

[andrewada]

@TruthJunior.

I have studied this issue for a long time:

You are full of it - O'Tool is not.

[luddite333]

O'toole is my hero. Smart Growth is dumb.

[Intransitman]

O'Toole's pushing people in a certain direction.

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

How, you have a funny way of defining coercion?

[Intransitman]

@PRGibbons81 Well O'Toole is a sleazy guy.

[PRGibbons81]

You need to try and make actual arguments not accusations and ad hom attacks.

[Intransitman]

OMG ROTFLMAO!

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

Why are you laughing? You called him a "sleezy guy" and accused him of trying to force his policies on others. You even suggested he only holds those opinions because of corporate donations.

You're really struggling to make a solid point here.

[Intransitman]

Dude, follow the money! LOL

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

That is not an argument because I can throw it back at you. Here in Las Vegas, Democrats are trying to push for a light rail system. One of the leading democrats owns prime acreage along the proposed rail line -he stands to gain millions of dollars from a line.

Real argument: Phoenix, a metro area with 4.3 million residents is going to lose $28 million a year on its light rail system and that doesnt even include repaying the $1.4 billion in debt.

[Intransitman]

Las Vegas & Phoenix need Amtrak service restored for that matter.

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

More subsidized transportation that is less efficient than road.

The Las Vegas monorail is about to go bankrupt.

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

We could use a highway to connect, not a railroad.

[Intransitman]

There's never been a direct rail line between Las Vegas to Phoenix, though north of you, Hwy 95 was built on the road bed of the Las Vegas & Tonopah RR.

[PRGibbons81]

and there is no need for one. There is no high way that connects Las Vegas and Phoenix either. That would be more efficient than a rail line.

[Intransitman]

There already is the Hoover Dam forms part of it.

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

Drive it. It is not a real highway. There is no direct connection between Las Vegas and Phoenix. You have to change roads 3 or four times. Parts are one lane some are on real highway.

[Intransitman]

Though Hwy 93, is stil a highway,

[PRGibbons81]

1) It gets down to one lane in each direction

2) It does not go to Phoenix.

Like I said, there is no highway connecting Phoenix and Las Vegas.

The left of center Brookings Institution notes this as fact. Why are you arguing?

[PRGibbons81]

You also have to merge onto 40 for a about 30 miles or so too then back onto 93 at Kingman. Or you can head over to Laughlin and take another road up and avoid the Hoover dam congestion (bypass bridge not complete yet).

[Intransitman]

So why don't you get a bunch of investors together and start building your Autobahn.

[PRGibbons81]

Because federal and state governments own most of the land.

That and assuming they did put together a road, what is to stop the government from coming along and building a free highway right after them to sink the venture?

Are you ever going to get back to how O'Toole is forcing you to do anything?

[Intransitman]

There is already a free highway & you said it was crap.

[PRGibbons81]

Did you miss the part about it being 4 different crappy roads? There is no direct connection between Phoenix and Las Vegas.

There are plans for a direct connection in the future, but it hasn't been started yet. With a plan in place, why would the private sector plop down billions of its own money? That makes no sense.

The governments of Arizona and Nevada could bid the service out to a private company to create a toll road. I bet it would be finished much quicker

[Intransitman]

@PRGibbons81 So bring that up with them.

[PRGibbons81]

I see you've finally run out of steam.

[Intransitman]

No, I'm a conservative & not an anarchist.

[PRGibbons81]

so people who oppose wasting scarce resources on light rail, mag lev trains, and dense urban living environments few people actually want is anarchy?

That seems to be a strange definition.

Let me guess, civilization is where people from on high direct other people on how to live their lives, how they may spend their money, where they can live, what they can eat, and how they can get to work?

[Intransitman]

When ever some one mentions mag-lev, Lyndon LaRouche comes to mind.

[baltimore137]

Wow this is a very oversipmplified view of planning. "I stopped a development because I like to look at birds." I guess the Cato Institute does not require facts or anything to speak at thier engagements.

[freedomsadvocate]

Sorry, but you might want to do a little research before you criticize. There are documented cases--one that comes to mind is in Virginia Beach--where people have been prevented by zoning and political influence from developing their land because it would impair the view of other other property owners and the public.

[baltimore137]

yes views, not when looking at birds as this guy claims. If he wanted to use examples in his speech he should have used real examples. Anecdotes as this guy used are for people without facts. But I guess wild accusations, anecdotes and playing off peoples fears are pretty much the only ammunition for such a ridiculous argument.

[phippsed]

IT just happened recently in Seattle. A new high density housing project was in the process of being built and it was stopped based on the complaints of one woman claiming to represent the neighborhood. This happens all the time. This delay costs thousands of dollars none of which will be payed by this woman. This is the reason that rents are so high in places like SF and Seattle is that it is so hard to develop new property. This is because those cities have so little respect for property rites

[rbl777]

there is an obivous proof that people who live in high density produce commit less to global warming - they dont have to drive to work, public transit in high density areas is well developed. less energy is required for heating and cooling of appartment building than single home (considering the amount of residents in appt.) and apartment building produce less waste.

wat more do u want u old junkie.

but i do agree with him on many points. and im happy that there is critisism on the issue

[Wormtail81]

The suburbs were basically planned too. Zoning laws stymied cities from naturally developing.

[soakupthesunman]

Yes, planners created the suburbs, now they're wanting us to all live in dense cities.

I would say they're making it up as they go along. Kinda like the "mankind did it" crowd, who back in the '70's were telling us our emissions were causing another ice age.

They're not really "experts", just a lot of folks who spent years in school instead of getting a real job.

[Wormtail81]

I'd say that there are two schools of planners: the ones who want to actively plan how people live and function, and those who want to create a basic framework of institutions to serve as a foundation for 'organic' community growth and development. Really, the same has always been true of policy-makers.

[DelilahZoe]

@soakupthesunman

Planning is not against any particular type of city form per say - or city, suburb, or rural. Planning ensures residents get the services and amenities they need/want, and improve infrastructure along the way. If you kept growing without planning, you'd all be drinking well water and on septic, which you'd pollute with your own waste if you exceeded density.

[soakupthesunman]

ah, yes, we'd all be totally clueless dolts without "planners". I see

[DelilahZoe]

It happens all the time.

[Cyrus992]

Wormtail81:

Good point. Suburbia is larglely government planned as well. There are so many building codes, zoning laws, rules, and regulation. I admire O'Toole's fight for freedom, but he fails to recognize the suburbs need to represent less interest of local planning departments.

If I were him, I would also criticize suburbs as well..

But what if people like me enjoy some of smart growth ideas?? CAPITALISM IS THE ANSWER NOT GOVERNMENT!!

[Intransitman]

@Cyrus992 O'Toole is very selective in what he says to the point that he just favours automobiles, even he has said; "Highways are there regarless of economic conditions".

[Cyrus992]

Intransitman:

I agree with O'Toole that there should be no tax funded rail, but AGAIN.. PRIVATIZE THE HIGHWAYS TOO!! That is why are highways are in poor condition and are congested!

[Intransitman]

Then first of all he should be mostly pushing for roads & streets to be privatized, most of the rail lines in the US are already private.

[Cyrus992]

Intransitman:

If most of the rail lines are privatized, then what the hell is he complaining about??

He also never talks about privatizing rail..

Besides, I would rather prefer... using rail rather than driving that is costly, polluting, time wasting, and risks my life on the wheel...

[Cyrus992]

Intransitman:

I mean privatizing highways... sorry..

[Intransitman]

What O'Toole is pushing for are double standards.

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

He actually suggests converting highways into toll roads, using congestion pricing or privatizing the highways.

You can't privitize city streets because of commons problems.

[Intransitman]

Like I said, what O'Toole is pushing for are double standards.

[PRGibbons81]

@Intransitman

Commons problem as in you can't discriminate against users of public streets. You can with rail because there is a defined point of entry where you can collect a fee.

The best you can do with public streets right now is tax gas or miles driven.

That isn't a double standard, you just don't understand economics.

[Intransitman]

@PRGibbons81 I understand the economics, what you don't understand is the politics.

[anevilpettingzoo]

Excellently argued. Good stuff. I grew up on a farm and also lived in rural Southern Oregon. I moved to Portland several years ago and lived downtown. That was ok for about six months, but I spent three years there. I've been inching my way away since. Soon, I hope to be on 5 acres.

Hopefully I'll still have that freedom.

[NgyuenKim]

you know what bothers me? that people can tell me not to dump waste on my land. I have a huge pit on my land. I don't understand why there eco-nazis think they have the right not to import waste from the UK under free trade agreements and dump it in my lake.

Thanks CATO for defending my rights. There enemies of freedom are closing in on us in every right.

[DelilahZoe]

But how do your neighbors feel about it? They will file LAWSUITS in a HURRY even if the zoning didn't exist, and fighting that in court would cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

Zoning is helping you out. Its a way of protecting your property value -- what if your neighbors decided to install a crematorium 15 feet from the property line? or a garbage incinerator, either of which would pollute the air you, your children, your wife/husband breathes everyday, 24 hours a day?

[Intransitman]

@NgyuenKim Depends on what you are dumping, manure is one thing, toxic waste leaking into some one elses drinking water is some thing else.

[goose1077]

Where are parts 2, 3, and 4?

[tbharris9]

I agree...I started watching it and now noticed I don't have the rest of the video.

[goose1077]

I've lived in a condo for five years. I can't wait to get a home with a yard.

[Pvtjamesryan2]

Why do you call yourself the "Cato Institute"?

Is this in any relation to MARCUS PORCIUS CATO?

[latewire]

Indirectly--they named themselves after the Cato papers written by the founding fathers and their ilk. The Cato Papers were named for Cato--the famous uncompromising principled Roman senator.

[Pvtjamesryan2]

Exactly....

I never liked Cato. Most of the reason was because he killed himself. Such a wimp.

[EclipseMonkey]

Only a wimp would've given himself up to a tyrant to secure a little clemency and live a life owed to another man; to give up his principles and make vain the sacrifice of all those who fought on behalf of his ideals. It was not a death made in desperation; it was merely a last resort. He was not so naive as to think he could run away from Caesars legions, to cling cowardly at the will to life. Instead he courageously ended his life, remained a master unto himself.

[EclipseMonkey]

Pvtjamesryan2,

You have all right and freedom to your opinion of Cato. But if all you think of his action is to be summed up by an ad hominem, to call him a wimp and ignore the very context under which he commited suicide, like other very princpled stoics, is a perplexing thought. However I don't wish to condemn your sentiments. If would explain in greater detail why you feel such a way about Cato as to help others understand, you might vindicate yourself and educate others.

[Pvtjamesryan2]

This isn't group therapy dickhead.

Get a fucking life!!!

[EclipseMonkey]

That you can be so persuaded towards anger by a comment on youtube does not speak well of either your character nor state of mind. However, whether my comment has upset you or you are already afflicted by something you ought to talk to someone about it and vent your feelins in a demeaning way.

[EclipseMonkey]

Edit: "vent your feelings in a less demeaning way"

My apologies.

[soakupthesunman]

It was founded by Inspector Clouseau's manservant.

[Surhotchaperchlorome]

Why was this resubmitted?